Fuse.



No. 657,4I4. I Patented Sept. 4, |900.

- R. HUNDHAUSEN.

. FUSE.

(Applicationrled Nov. 18, 1899A (No Model.)

@l /c' f Ib-{ku J Tm: N owms PE1-:ns co.. Pnoaumo.. WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

RUDOLF HUNDHAUSEN, OF WILMERSDORF, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TOTI-IE SIEMENSr daHALSKE ELECTRIC COMPANYYOF AMERICA, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 657,414, datedSeptember'll, 1900. Application filed November 18, 1899. Serial No.737,445. (No model.)

To all wtomt't may concern,.-

Beit known that I, RUDOLF HUNDHAUSEN,

a subject of the Emperor of Germany, resid` ing at Wilmersdorf, nearBerlin, Germany,l Y have invented a certain new and useful Im-vprovement in Fuses, (Case No. 256,) of which the following is a full,clear, concise, and ex# act description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings,forming a-part ofthis,

specification.

My invention relates to fuses, and has for its object the provision ofimproved means; whereby the terminals of a ruptu red fuse may;

be speedily separated.

In the application of fuses as safeguards -for electric circuits it isessential that the power consumed therein be as small as possifV ble andalso that the drop of potential caused The rupture of fusesl therein beminimized.

is accompanied frequently by an arc,which extends from one terminal tothe otherand per In,

sists after the fuse has been melted away. order to reduce the lengthsof strips of fusewire, it is necessary that the terminals of the,

ruptured fuse be mechanically separated in order that the arc formedbetween them mayj be extinguished. Means for accomplishing1 this objecthave been devised in the form of .cement bodies, which melt under theindua means wherein the actual safeguard against the maintenance of thearc does not reside in the mechanical structure ofthe fuse, but in aportion in secondary relation to the fuse.

By this means any tension upon the fuse normally is avoided and the fusewill always be reliable.

I will describe my invention more particularly by reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which- In this method, however, thev Figure lis a side view of an embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a top viewthereof. Fig. 3 is a side view, the fuse being ruptured. Fig. 4 is aside View with the terminals of the fuse separated. Figs. 5 and 6 areside and top views, respectively, of another embodiment of my invention.Fig. '7 is a side viewillustrating the application of fuse-wire.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the different views.

Referring now to Fig. l, the fuse a is united to one terminal b of acircuit. The free end of the fuse consists of an enlarged portion orloop c, which is mechanically united to an-v other terminal d, which isin electrical communication with the terminal e of the circuit through aspring f. The loop portion c of the fuse is placed overa projecting armg, against which the force of the spring j' acts. If the current in thecircuit increases abnormally, the fuse a is ruptured, as shown in Fig.2. An arc is formed, the heat caused thereby be ing sufficient to meltneighboring portions of the fuse, thereby increasing the space overwhich the arc must be sustained. If this increased space, however, isnot sufficient lo break the arc, thel loop c of the fuse will also bemelted by the heat, as shown in Fig. When this loop c is melted asufficient distance, the spriug'facts, thereby speedily sepa rating theterminals ,b and d and readily interrupting the arc. This is clearlyshown in Fig.

4. The wave-like-form of the fuse a, as shown in Fig. l, shows that notension is exerted thereon by the springf, and therefore the weakestportion of the fuse a is always a reliable safeguard to the system. I amthereby enabled to use very short lengths of fusewire, as the mechanicalmeans employed separate the terminals upon rupture, and I am valsoenabled to use a fuse-wire of small crosssection, as the tension of thespring acting on thefree terminal is not transmitted to the mainport-ion of the fuse. Both ends of the fuse may, however, be movablymounted, in which case a ring or frame g may be employe/d, as shown inFig. 5'. At its terminals the fuse a may be preferably doubled andpassed over the sides of a supporting-frame g', it being l zthen securedto springs f and f2. In order IOO not to include thespringsin thecircuit, I preferably employ flexible conductors 7L and h2, over whichthe terminals of the fuse may be Wound. These flexible conductors 71,'and h2 are included in the circuit at b and e. rlhe support-s must bestationarily mounted or fixed with relation to each other, and Ipreferablyemploy a porcelain ring, as shown in Fig. t5, for supporting`both terminals of the fuse. The doubled portions ofthe fuse serve totransmit the tension ot' the springs f and f2 to the porcelain ring, themain portion of the fuse a being devoid of tension. A ru pture of thefuse a will necessitate a melting of the knotted portions 7c' 7a2,thereby permitting the springs-f f2 to act and speedily separate theterminals of flexible conductors h and h2 a sufficient distancepositively to interrupt. the arc.

A simple means for the employment of fusewire consists in passing thefuse-wire through apertures in insulated portions Z Z2, knotted portions7s' 702 of the fuse being provided to prevent a tension being exerted onthe main portions thereof. A rupture of the fuse will be accompanied bythe melting of the knotted portions 7c k", .thereby permitting theterminals ot' the fuse to be drawn through the apertures, positivelyinterrupting the circuit.

I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodimentso'fl my invention; but I do not wish to be limited to the preciseconstruction shown; but,

l-Iaving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patentl l. The combination with a fuse portion, of atension device adapted for separating the terminals of the said fuseportion upon rupture, a second fuse portion in secondary relation withthe said fuse portion, and a support associated with the second fuseportion for receiving the tension due to the said tension device, theweakest portion of the said fuse portion being thereby relieved oftension, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a fuse portion, of a second fuse portion ofincreased cross-section, a support associated with said second fuseportion, and a tension device adapted for connection with the secondfuse portion for separating the terminals of the fuse upon rupture,substantially as described.

3. The combination withafuse portion, one terminal of which is adaptedfor connection with one terminal of a circuit, of a second fuse portionelectrically united to said fuse portion, a support associated with thesecond fuse portion normally in fixed relation to the first aforesaidfuse portion, and a tension device tor separating the terminals of thefuse upon rupture, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a fuse portion, the terminals of the said fuseportion being knotted, of supporting means against which said knottedportions are adapted to rest, and tension devices associated with theknotted portions ofthe said fuse tor separating the terminals of thesaid fuse upon rupture, the main portion of the said t'use beingrelieved ot' tension, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a fuse portion, the terminals ot' the said fuseportion being of increased cross-section, of a supporting means againstwhich said portions of increased crosssection are adapted to rest,flexible terminals in electrical communication with the said terminalsof the fuse portion, and tension devices associated with the saidterminals for separating the said terminals upon the rupture of thefuse, substantially as described.

6. The .combination with a fuse portion, the terminals of the said fuseportion being of increased cross-section, ot a supporting-frame againstwhich said portions of' increased cross-section are adapted to rest,flexible terminals in electrical communication with the said terminalsof the fuse portion, and tension devices associated with the saidterminals for separating the said terminals upon the rupture of thefuse, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a fuse, of aspringretractor therefor, and afixed support normally relieving the 'fuse of strain, the retractorbeing freed when the arc extends a determinate amount.

S. The combination with a fuse portion suitably secured in position, oftension means for separating the terminals of the said fuse uponrupture, and means for normally preventing the tension means fromexerting tension upon the fuse portion, substantially as described.

9. An electric fuse normally connecting circuit-terminals without beingstrained, and means controlled by the arc when the fuse blows forrapidly separating the terminals.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 10th day ofOctober, A. D. 1809.

RUDOLF IIUNDIIAUSEN.

Vitnesses:

WOLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HASPER.

